The Evidences of our Convictions

It is interesting that people that proclaim the loudest that truth does not matter or does not even exist, seem to complain the most profusely when someone lies to them, or tell others that they have lied. If these relativists had the confidence of their convictions, they would have to equally proclaim, with the truth, that there is no truth, and that this necessarily comes with the inevitable reality (truth) that there is no lie (untruth). Can you believe that the post-modernists believe this is true and that this is the essence of much that is taught to our children in schools today?

But what about us as Christian absolutists, do we have the confidence of our convictions? Here we have the greatest complaint of those looking from outside the camp into our churches, and into our “Christian” lives. Question: Are we Christians truly living the convictions that we so boldly tout as “the way, the truth, and the life” (John 14:6)? Are we really trusting God, seeing where He is at work and then molding our lives, culture and churches to Him, rather than expecting Him to mold His sovereignty to our instability? Here seems to be an indisputable but inexplicable problem. The relativist seems to want to stand firm on his relativity, where as many of us Christians seems to demand relativistic personal exemption from the absolutism of our beliefs.

It seems oxymoronic to me that we people of the absolute truth can not seem to sit down with those absolutes and work through our issues. Why can not yes be yes and no be no (Matt. 5:37). Why do Christians base relationships on feelings rather than the objective truths of God’s word? Why do so many complaints come from those Christians with no answers and no real biblical objections? If one did not know otherwise, they would have to come to the conclusion that these Christians are relativists. Here is an interesting question: If there is such a thing as a Christian relativist, does he believe the Bible is true?

Here is where many of us find the church today. We see churches governed by the subjective and often conflicting emotions of individuals rather than the absolute truths of God’s word. This mind set has been taught to us in the schools, legislated to us by the courts, and propagated into us by our progressive parents (who just didn’t feel like putting up with our relativistic attitudes).

While relativism may seem like a good deal when we are making the rules, it suddenly does not seem like a good idea at all when others are ruling with an equal lack of any standards and their feelings dictate the relationship. “Relativistic relationships,” now there is another oxymoron!

Is it any wonder that our children are confused about what is right and what is wrong? Is it any wonder that we ourselves are confused by most issues in life? We have come to believe that what is “fair” (in our mind) is more important than what is “true” and “right” by God’s fixed and righteous standards. Liberal scholars and even some not so liberal preachers have come to believe that if the truth is divisive, that it is unfair, and that fairness trumps truth. Somehow they try to get to unity through the “fairness doctrine” rather than through the “truth doctrine” and in this they find “unity” shallow and fleeting and “fairness” strangely a matter of opinion. In short genuine unity can only be achieved through truth being addressed with opinions set in full view of that truth’s light.

If you would like more information on the subject of relativism and the gradualism that got us into this mess, that American history can be found in; The Death of Truth, by Dennis McCallum, Bethany House Publishers. If you have specific questions or thoughts, you can address them to d_seaford@msn.com. I will respond to all inquires and be glad to debate any and all of these issues. I think that it is time that we get to the truth of the matter!

Does an Atheist have Faith?

Two good friends of mine, excellent scholars and powerful Christian brothers have written a book with the title I Don’t Have Enough Faith to Be an Atheist, (Goodnews Publishers, Wheaton, Ill., available through ABE, CBD and in better book stores everywhere). It is the kind of book that as you read it, you are constantly thinking about all the people you want to present with a copy. By the time that you are finished reading it you just want to walk down the street and give a copy to everyone that you see. This may well be the most easily read and practical defense of the faith ever written.

Dr. Norman Geisler and Frank Turek have done the world an incredible favor with this book and will no doubt capture the attention of many agnostics, atheists, and members of cults who are looking for an objectively written, highly cogent and practically presented argument for the orthodox Christian faith. If you are a nominal Christian or fall into any of the categories above, I dare you to read this book! Until you do you will likely not have enough information to make realistic arguments for your belief system. It is that good!

I am a voracious reader and in a typical week will read two or three books. I am also a trained Christian apologist who has spent many hours thinking about these things. So I am not easily impressed by, nor drawn into thought processes that are illogical or not well developed. This book is a must read for everyone genuinely looking for truth.

Dr. Phillip Johnson says “atheism requires gobs of blind faith, while the path to logic and reason leads straight to the gospel of Jesus Christ. Geisler and Turek show why.” Josh McDowell says that if you are still an atheist after reading this book, “then I suspect that you are in denial.” Cal Thomas says “this book should disturb anyone claiming to be an atheist.” I would add to this by saying that it should disturb anyone not enthusiastically claiming the tenants, and living out the orthodox Christian faith.

The logically and objectively presented thesis of this book is that it takes far more faith to be an atheist than it does to be a Christian, given the evidences for each position. Genuine evidences must be rooted in, and reveal truth.

In order to lay the foundations for their arguments, Geisler and Turek give several truths about truth in their book that steal the relativist’s thunder and leaves him bankrupt when attempting relativistic faith in every claim of truth by every religion (postmodernism). Some of those truths are as follows:
Truth is discovered, not invented. It exists independent of anyone’s knowledge of it. (Gravity existed prior to Newton).
Truth is transcultural; if it true, it is true for all people, in all places, at all times; (2+2=4 for all people, in all places, at all times).
Truth is unchanging even though our beliefs about truth do change; (when we began to believe that the world was round instead of flat, the truth about the earth did not change, only our belief about the earth changed).
Beliefs can not change facts, no matter how genuinely they are held; (someone can genuinely believe the world is flat, but that only makes that person sincerely mistaken).
Truth is not affected by the attitude of the one professing it. (An arrogant person does not make the truth he professes false. A humble person does not make the error he professes true).
All truths are absolute truths. Even truths that appear to be relative are absolute. (For example, ‘I, Frank Turek, feel warm on November 20, 2003 may appear to be a relative truth, it is actually absolutely true for everyone, everywhere that Frank Turek had a sensation of warmth on that day).

In short, contrary beliefs are possible but contrary truths are not possible.

You can not reasonably hold that what is true for me is not true for you!